Rather than lament/whine/complain (although I have done these things as my friends back home know all to well) about my present “out of Pilates shape-ness," I decided to take note of how it feels to do Pilates for the “first” time again. I took myself back to Level 1 (just as we often tell our students in the training program to do from time to time…see we do practice what we teach).  Two-three times a week I cycle to the Pilates studio in Finsbury Park in the morning before I head off to the library for research. Here is one of my journal entries from the early days in my re-discovery of Pilates in London:

"In a cold, but very cute studio I start with pre-Pilates while I wait for the heating to warm up the rooms. Roll-Back feels luxurious after transporting laptop and books around town in bags/laptop cases/etc. When I move over to Refomer I feel slightly uncoordinated on Leg Circles/Frog and I have visions of many of my clients when they were first learning these movements. On Short Box I can feel some saddle-sore from cycling in London. And when I do Leg Springs on the Cadillac I notice how unstable my hips are in the movement and I reflect on how amazing Pilates is in keeping the whole body strong.  About 55 minutes later (well, more like 65 because I couldn’t resist and I did some Level 2 Arm Springs and a few other bits I love on the Spine Corrector), I walk out of the studio observing the changes in my body from just this session: the soot that I had felt in my lungs from the Tube seems expelled, my hips feel more open and walking with Pilates posture feels easier; most importantly my mood has been incredibly altered. I feel back to myself and I am reminded yet again why I love Pilates so much!"

So, when an illness, a long trip, or the countless other life happenstances  that hinder regular Pilates practice occur take the opportunity to re-experience Pilates for the first time. In reconnecting to the feeling of a beginner in Pilates, we can better relate to our clients, explain to prospective newbies the many benefits of Pilates and be reinvigorated in our passion for practicing and teaching Pilates.